My daughter attended the Gymi Aufnahmeprüfung and received the result by letter today. Her score is 26.95 and the minimum points for admission is 27. In the letter it also indicates this
"Gemäss $12 des Reglements über die Aufnahme in die gymnasialen Maturitätsschulen , SRSZ 624.111 , wird definitiv aufgenommen , wer mindestens 27 Punkte erreicht hat . Die Schulleitung hat die Kompetenz , bei einer Abweichung von höchstens 0.5 Punkten nach unten einen von der Abgeberschule empfohlenen Kandidaten zuzulassen , um besonderen Umständen Rechnung zu tragen"
Seems to me the school leadership could consider to accept a student when the gap is less than 0.5. My daughter has worked really hard for this and I wonder if there's anything I could do to support her?
Should I talk to her school leadership to make an appealing case for her? How does this work and wonder if anyone has similar experience?
Thanks!!
The first thing I would do is congratulate your daughter for the hard work and the result. She needs to know that you are proud of her.
Ask her if she really wants to get into Gymi. She probably will have to work hard to stay in Gymi. She needs to be prepared for that. Make sure that she knows that its ok if it doesnt work out.
If she wants to really try and knows that she could fail, talk to the teacher. He or she needs to write a letter stating why they think she should go to Gymi.
Start by talking to the teacher and take it from there, perhaps she can join on a probation basis. But realistically if she has worked really hard and can’t deliver the minimum grade it is going to be a real struggle to keep hitting the mark. So make sure it is what she really wants.
Getting to gym isn't the be all and end all. My daughter did two years at gym before dropping out to do an apprenticeship. She's currently in the final stages of gaining a Bachelors in engineering.
My other daughter didn't even make gym. She's now got a Bacherlors in language, is a few months away from a Bachelors in education and starts work as a primary school teacher in August.
Which Gymi did she apply to?
What is the break down of her scores?
Did she struggle during the test?
I ask the above to support you making your arguments. (I have had a fair share of contacts and complaints with school heads for a series of reasons)
Like other posters have said I would ask her what she wants - it is likely that especially the first 2 years are going to be a constant struggle and if she does still want it, then you shoul approach the schulleitung of the Gymi armed with some arguments.
You need to move really fast.
That is the strength of the Swiss system - there are many paths that can be followed.
My son has Asperger’s and is blessed with a very high IQ. Up to and including the admittance it was a breeze for him. But after that he really had to work his ass off to keep up and get ahead. Many dropped out along the way. He has now finished college and is in his first job.
My daughter did not even try, she saw what my son was doing and just said no that is not for me. She did an apprenticeship in the multimedia area and had a whale of a time doing it. She will finish this summer and now intends to get a degree part time. I think the few years experience of the world of work and a bit more maturity has made her see the advantage of getting a degree.
A blogger's article called "Didn't pass the Gymnasium exam - and now what?" suggests the following as possible next steps:
1. Re-take the exam
2. Consider an alternative school, e.g., Fachmittelschule (FMS)
3. Take a private preparatory course, and then re-take the exam
4. Apply for an occupational traineeship (Berufslehre)
5. Enroll in a 10th school-year
https://www.akademisches-lektorat.ch/gymipruefung/
We are talking about Schwyz were you can get up to 18 points from the grades on your last report card and up to 18 points from the exam itself.
If I understood it correctly this is the exam to enter the Gymnasium from second or third year of secondary school (or after the so called 10th school year).
I assume your motivation are either because she failed the test in 3rd year secondary school, or it is from 2nd year and her best friend passed the exam.
If she is in 2nd year, doing the usual 3rd year of secondary school is normal and absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. I doubt that you will get an recommendation in such a case, as the student has the opportunity to improve its grades and do the exam again. There are no "besondere Umständen" I could think of if she failed the exam in 2nd year of secondary school. "But I will no longer be with my very, very best friend for life" is neither one.
With .5 I'd definitely go and first talk to the teacher, then the school board, and see if they feel she has what it takes, and how she can be supported to overcome difficulties next year. The .5 is just one of many factors- the teachers will know if it is just .5- or the fact she has not reached the level required for the big jump to Gymi- and she would be better off re-taking the year to consolidate everything and be ready for said jump.
And point zero: Have realistic expectations for you child.
"wird definitiv aufgenommen"
This implies that there is or can be provisional accepting as well.
But frankly, unless she just had a bad day during the tests she may well be better off with an alternative route, like waiting a year. Since the ordinary grades count half, which enables the build-up of reserves during the preceding year (every test is easier with a well-designed approach), her grade says that she has no reserves at all, and will probably always be on the brink of getting kicked.
Usually the first semester of Gymi is “provisorisch” i.e. students need a grade average of 4 or more to stay in.
Gymi itself is a lot of pressure - in OP’s boots I would not push my child into it unless I was really sure. And as others have said, Gymi is not the be-all and end-all.
I would advise making an appointment with your local Laufbahnberatung (careers advisory) as we went to a really good presentation our one did that explained the different post-primary tracks.
Cheers,
Nick